The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-26
,verted eyes, nor did he perceive mat his
al N fnppI hiS

lates you're the right kind TO tie TO, meb'
bee IL mont hev done il you'd been Twin
over thar in pallis, but somehow 1t don't
iibe In over here and agree with ship
and that ship lying comf'ablc ashore In
San Francisco, You don't seem to suit
the climate, you see, and your general
gait Is likely to stampede the other cattle.
Agin,n said Mott, with an ostentation OF
looking at his companion, but really gaz-
ing on vacancy, "this fixed up, antique
style Of yours goes better with them IVY
kivered ruins in Rome and Palmyry that
Rosey's mixed you up with, than it would
we're. amt saying" he added as de
Ferrieres was about TO speak, 81 amt say
in eZ that child amt smitten with ye, III
amt no use to lie and say she don't prefer
YOU to her old father, or young chaps OF
her own age and kind, I've seed 1t afor
now. | suspicioned IL afor seed her sup
ont o. this place tonight. Thar! keep
your hair on, such ez it is!' he added as
de Fcrrieres attempted quick dcprecatory
gesture. IL amt askin yer how often she
comes here, nor what she seq to you nor
you to her. amt asked her, and don't
ask YOU I'll allow ez you've settled all
the prclminaries and bought her the ring
and SIGH; I'm only askin' you now, kalki-
latin you've got all the keerds in your
own hand, what you'll take to step out
and leave the boardy"
The dazed look Of de Ferrieres might
have forced itself even upon Motifs one
idead faulty, had it not been part OF
that gentleman's system delicately to look
another way at that moment so as not to
embarrass his advcrsary's calculation.
''Pardon," stammered de Ferreres, 'but
| do not comprehend" He raised his
hand to his head. II am not WE'LL am
stupid All, mon Dieup'
81 amt sayin'," added Mott more
gently, "ez you don't feel bad. It's
nat'ral But it amt business. I'm ask
ing YOU" he continued, taking from his
breast pocket large wallet, chow much
you'll take in cash now, and the rest next
steamer day, to give up Rosey and leave
the ship"
De Ferrieres staggered to his feet de-
spite Motifs restraining hand. ''To leave
mademoiselle and leave the ship?' he said
huskily, sis it not'"
'In course. Yer can leave things yer
just ez you found 'em when you came,
you know" continued Mott, for the first
time looking around the miserable apart
ment. OTIS business job. I'll take the
bales back agin, and you kin reckon up
what you're out, countn' Rosey and loss
o. time"
"He wishes me to go-he has said," re-
peated de Ferrieres to himself thickly.
"Ef you mean me when you say him,
and ez there amt any other man around,
l reckon you do-'yesp"
"And he asks me-he-this man OF the
feet and the daughter-asks me-de Fer
rieres-what | will take" continued de
Ferrieres, buttoning his coat, ''No! it is
dreamr" lie walked stiniy to the cor
ncr where his portmantcau lay, lifted it,
and going to the outer door, cut through
the ships side that communicated with
the alley, unlocked it and flung it open to
the night A thick mist like the breath
Of the ocean flowed into the room.
"You ask me what shall take to CO."
he said us he stood on the threshold. 81
shall take what you cannot give, mon
seur, but what I would not keep if l
stood here another moment. l take my
honor, monsieur, and-I take my leave"
For moment his grotesque figure was
outlined in the opening, and then disap-
peared as II he had dropped into an invis-
ible ocean below. Stupeiied and discon-
certed ut this complete success of his over
lures, Abner Mott remained speechless,
gazing ut the vacant space until cold in
flux of the mist recalled him. Then he
rose and shufIled quickly to the door.
''ll! Ferrers! Look yer-say! Wot's
your hurry, pardnerY'
But there was no response. The thick
mist which hid the surrounding objects,
seemed to deaden all sound also. After n
moments pause he closed the door, but
did not lock it, and retreating to the cen
ter Of the room remained blinking at the
two candles and plucking some pcrplexing
problem from his beard. Suddenly an
idea seized him. Roscyl Where was she?
Perhaps it had been preconcerted plan
and she had fled with him. Putting out
the lights he stumbled hurriedly through
the passage to the gangway above. The
cabin door was open; there was the sound
of voices-Renshaw' and Rosey's. Mr..
Mott felt relieved but not uncmbarrassed
He would have avoided his daughters
presence that evening. But even while
making this resolution with characteristic
infelicity he Numbered into the room.
Rosey looked up with slight start; Rem
shaw's animated face was changed to its
former expression of inward discomfort.
"You came in so like ghost, father"
said Rosey with slight peevishness that
was new to her. "And | thought you
were in town. Don't go, Mr.. Renshaw."
But Mr.. Renshaw intimated that he
had already treSpassed upon Miss Motifs
time, and that no doubt her father want
ed to talk with her. To his surprise and
annoyance, however, Mr. Mott insisted on
accompanying him to his room, and with
out needing Renshaw's cold GOOD
night" entered and closed the door be-
hind him.
"p'raps' said Mr. Mott with n troubled